deaf
partially or wholly lacking or deprived of the sense of hearing; unable to hear.
refusing to listen, heed, or be persuaded; unreasonable or unyielding: deaf to all advice.
Deaf, of or relating to the Deaf or their cultural community: Deaf customs and values.
Deaf persons collectively (usually preceded by the): social services for the Deaf.
Usually the Deaf . Deaf persons who identify themselves as members of a community composed of Deaf persons and others who share in their culture.
Origin of deaf
1pronunciation note For deaf
Other words from deaf
- deaf·ly, adverb
- deaf·ness, noun
- half-deaf, adjective
- non·deaf, adjective
- non·deaf·ly, adverb
- non·deaf·ness, noun
- qua·si-deaf, adjective
- qua·si-deaf·ly, adverb
- sem·i·deaf, adjective
- sem·i·deaf·ness, noun
- un·deaf, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024
British Dictionary definitions for deaf
/ (dɛf) /
partially or totally unable to hear
(as collective noun; preceded by the): the deaf See also tone-deaf
refusing to heed: deaf to the cries of the hungry
Origin of deaf
1deaf
Derived forms of deaf
- deafly, adverb
- deafness, noun
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Other Idioms and Phrases with deaf
In addition to the idiom beginning with deaf
- deaf as a post
also see:
- fall on deaf ears
- stone deaf
- turn a deaf ear
The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
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